A hybrid of (schiedeana x baileyi) by Bill Timm. A fairly fast growing, faithfully blooming, easy to grow plant. Forming little clusters of narrow, grassy leaves, with a simple inflorescence of pink, with white to yellowish flowers, it does well mounted on a twig or cork. 

For lovers of weird, a nearly leafless, shrub-like member of the Didiereaceae that can reach nearly 10 feet tall but grows in a rather haphazard clump of tangled branches.  The cylindrical stems are kind of olive green with silver tricomes and bears scattered conical spines which are stout but not ‘dangerous’. 

Native to southern coastal Madagascar in the regions of the thorn forest from near sea level to almost 1,000 feet. A dioecious species that requires both sexes to set seed, but is easily propagated from cuttings.  Reportedly slow growing but we do not find this to be especially true.  Best grown in full sun to partial shade, well drained soils and moderate watering. Protect from freezing.

Paul Isley’s cross of (bulbosa x butzii) is a cute, compact plant with a bulbous base. The leaves are terete and silvery and the inflorescence, borne on a short scape has pink branches. Easily forms clusters and is easy to grow. 

A lovely, robust hybrid by Jim Irvin is a cultivar of (limbata x bulbosa).  Most closely resembling the bulbosa parent with a bulbous base, glossy leaves, and a branched, red inflorescence, it does differ though in some aspects.  The plant is larger than bulbosa, growing to about 12 inches tall with upright, terete leaves that are glossy or nearly lacking visible trichomes.  The color is green overall until anthesis. 

The inflorescence is tall with multiple branches which are long and slender (more so than bulbosa) and bright red in color.  The foliage will blush slightly bronzy-reddish at anthesis and in stronger light.  A vigorous grower that produces more offsets than the bulbosa parent, forming nice clusters in a relatively short time. 

A hybrid cultivar of Cryptanthus ‘Hapa Haole’ x ‘Elaine’ by Australian, David Cross.  A full rosette of leaves to about 18 inches across.  The leaves are banded with silver over a background color of dark brown to reddish-brown, with slightly wavy margins.

Differs widely in appearance from its more common relative, Portea petropolitana v. petropolitana. Growing in a spreading , open rosette of densely lepidote, silvery leaves that are pointed and bear black spines on the margins. The inflorescence is a panicle of loose branches and bracts of lavender, very attractive. Grows to over 30 inches tall and wide.

If you go back far enough, you may remember Portea ‘Pink Shadow’. This is (or was) that plant. It sold under that name for a few years until it’s true identity was found out, but that was years ago.

*VIPP plants are Offsets

A nice form of nudicaulis that Wally Berg brought back from a Brazil trip some years ago. We do not know the exact type, though it looks a lot like capitata in general shape. A stout, wide leaved, tubular rosette with stiff green to yellowish leaves with a slight red marginal blush, red apiculate tips and prominent black spines.

The plants have the typical ‘thumb print’ of the species and produce offsets of short, stout stolons. A decorative plant for mounting or for a hanging basket.

*VIPP plants are Offsets

Something really special. This hybrid of (chiapensis x capitata ‘Red’) by Steve Correale is a jewel, with many characteristics of both parents, but favoring the chiapensis side. Broad, channeled leaves recurve in a graceful rosette to almost 12 inches across.

The inflorescence is a scape to about 4 inches long, with long scape bracts and a cluster of erect, pink branches. Long lasting in bloom, it blushes a pinkish-peach color under the abundant silvery trichomes. 

Unusual for the cross, this same cross; Tillandsia edithae x albertiana, has been made several times in the past and is registered under at least two names. Both however have red flowers, as one might expect with a cross of two red-flowered parents. This one has large purple flowers, silvery pink bracts and nice silvery leaves in a leafy, upright rosette. This plant freely produces many offsets.

A Mark Dimmitt hybrid is a cultivar of (aeranthos x ‘Houston’). It resembles the species stricta, with stiff, narrow, green leaves in a bushy rosette. A nice clump forming plant that has contrasting pink bracts and blue flowers on its inflorescence. 

This beautiful cliff-dwelling species endemic to Chiapas, Mexico is usually seen as a modest sized plant about 6 to 8 inches across, max, with normally, a simple spike. This clone is a relative giant, at well over 12 inches across and quite heavy and dense, the leaves are rather succulent and the inflorescence inflated. Covered with a thick coat of trichomes, it is silvery or even pinkish with a pink, scruffy inflorescence.

The inflorescence is usually three branched and very fat. Naturally such a large plant would be expected to be a slower grower, and it is. A blooming plant is worth the wait! Easy to grow, mounted, bright and airy, it will give months of color when in bloom. An outstanding and rarely seen selection of this fine species.

A nice looking plant with bulbous base and terete leaves that curve gracefully downward. A cultivar of (intermedia x caputmedusae) by noted Tillandsia breeder Mark Dimmitt and named by Paul Isley. 

The foliage is silvery and the inflorescence; multi-branched, bright red with purple flowers, is long lasting a showy. Forms clusters of plants in time and is especially easy to grow.